I have no words.

Well, that's a lie. But I do have very few words.

Tonight, America made history. We've heard that phrase over and over throughout the night, but I know for me, the true implications of this fact didn't settle in until recently. Around 11:30 PM on November 4, 2008, the American people elected Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

I came close to crying during President-to-be Obama's speech.
And I want to make clear I never tear up during speeches (except during the Biden Convention Speech when he referenced his old mother--I have a soft spot for senior citizens! as long as they're not named John McCain). This speech didn't touch me particularly because of the rhetoric, but because as I sat there in my dormitory kitchen on my plastic, pastel NYU chairs, I realized that this was a man I truly believed in. I began to think about the word "hope", a word I had often felt was thrown around carelessly by this candidate. Tonight, I finally understood. I understood that hope wasn't just an empty promise; tonight, I heard Barack Obama--the citizen not the politician--assure me that he is in this race to ride out the full wave, to help America reach its full potential, to bring some form of Platonic ideal of the United States back here to reality.
I felt like for the first time, I was convinced by a politician. We have grown accustomed to cardboard leaders, and as a Democrat, I have especially grown accustomed to losing. Yet tonight we experienced the victory of a 3D leader, of a man who marks not only a historical change in the racial nature of politics, but who marks a monumental shift in the ideologies and practices of modern politics. Here is a man we can believe in.

I've written more than I intended to. All that I mean to say is that I, I staunch Obama supporter turned adamant Hillary supporter turned Obama supporter again, have found religion tonight...in some form or another. By a religion, I mean that I have found faith in our country, in our future, in ourselves. I believe with all of my heart that these next 4 years--hell, the next 8!--will bring both the "change" and "hope" that our new president has promised. As he said, such sweeping changes may take more than a year and maybe even a term, but in the end, I believe America has chosen as one pundit said "an impressive man."

Look, I don't believe in a God, but I do believe this: Barack Obama is one of those historical figures that resonates through centuries. He's a Clinton, a Lincoln, a Kennedy. Above all, he is the most optimistic thing to happen to this nation in a long time. He is a beautiful Frankenstinien monster of sorts, created out of the pieces of great leaders past, who has now come to life and wow-ed the American public with his promise.

I'm biased, I realize. But I'm not biased because Barack Obama is a Democrat. I believe in Barack Obama because I believe in him as a human being. I see him as a rare opportunity, an incredible man with limitless potential in conjunction with a solid head and heart.

Today I experienced my first tears of joy,
and it was the best feeling to date.